South African Bulbs 2014

[johnstephen29]

Beautiful Massonia's Poul

[angie]

Beautiful Massonia's Poul

Yep, I second that 

Angie 

[ArnoldT]

Two early flowering plants. 

The Lachenalia punctata was  Lachenalia rubida

and

The Lachenalia  pygmaea was  Polyxena pygmaea

[pehe]

Thank you John and Angie!

They are grown from seeds which a kind forumist gave me in 2009.
They are flowering for the 3rd year.
I find them quite easy, they are treated as my mediterranean bulbs. Dry and hot in the summer (which probably is wrong), and watered September the 1st. Kept frost free during the winter.
I have spares if someone is interested in a swap in late spring.

Poul

[johnstephen29]

Hi Poul how can it be wrong when you get plants like these? It obviously works. Yeah I'd be interested in swapping, what other plants are you interested in?

[angie]

Thank you John and Angie!

They are grown from seeds which a kind forumist gave me in 2009.
They are flowering for the 3rd year.
I find them quite easy, they are treated as my mediterranean bulbs. Dry and hot in the summer (which probably is wrong), and watered September the 1st. Kept frost free during the winter.
I have spares if someone is interested in a swap in late spring.

Poul

Paul wish I had your success with seeds. I do the same as you have done with the bulbs and fingers crossed I have success this year with my seed    pm you about swaps.
Angie 

[johnw]

I was examining my Massonia pustulata seedlings today - see photo - and all leaves are smooth.  I was really hoping for the wonderfully textured leaves that have been pictured in this thread.  Is there a chance they'll develop the bumps in time or shall I start again? Just missed out ordering it from the seedex.

M. wittebergensis seedlings at 3 months are already showing bumpy leaves.

johnw

[pehe]

Hi Poul how can it be wrong when you get plants like these? It obviously works. Yeah I'd be interested in swapping, what other plants are you interested in?

Hi John,

I am no expert at all at South African bulbs, so maybe I am wrong, but I have read somewhere that they should be kept cool in the summer. My main interest is autumn flowering bulbs (Crocus, Sternbergia, Muscari, Colchicum, Galanthus and Narcissus)

Poul

[SJW]

I was examining my Massonia pustulata seedlings today - see photo - and all leaves are smooth.  I was really hoping for the wonderfully textured leaves that have been pictured in this thread.  Is there a chance they'll develop the bumps in time or shall I start again? Just missed out ordering it from the seedex.
johnw

John - the bumps may become more pronounced as the bulbs mature. I think there are also smooth-leaved forms in cultivation but much less common than the pustulate forms (Paul C would know better than I though). Here's one of mine now in full flower.

[johnw]

Steve  - I'll keep my fingers crossed.  That is one sensational pustulata you show!

johnw

[Paul Cumbleton]

John,
Yes , M. pustulata can be quite varied, from smooth-leaved (despite its name!) right through to extremely pustulate. My most pustulate one is very striking (pic below). I have a couple like this, which I will cross (excluding other pollinators) and hope to get similar offspring though this is not guaranteed. I will share these around if successful.

While young bulbs may not show their final adult form my guess is that yours ought to be showing at least something by now, so I would guess they may end up not as you hoped. The other possibility is that yours could be hybrids - see the discussion on this on the Massonia echinata thread.

Paul

[ashley]

Wow, such a beauty.

[johnw]

My the pustulatas just keep getting better!

Thanks for the information Paul.  In time we'll see what comes of the ones here and report back.

johnw

[Rimmer de Vries]

a few ZA bulbs blooming in an out side frame on November 5 before any winter covering. (Sunny photos)

and today after a week of subfreezing temps (-9C to -17C) day and night under only a polycarbonate lid



 

[K-D Keller]

A sunny day today, Moraea polystachya and Romulea rosea open their first blossoms. Third picture Massonia depressa.